Spring Cleaning – Closet Organization

Closet Catastrophe

Tucked under the stairwell, just off of my kitchen, is my entertaining closet.  A closet where, in theory, I can store all of my extra entertaining accoutrements — plates, glasses, silver trays, chafing dishes – all easily accessible and ready to party at a moment’s notice.   As you can see from the photo, the easy access in a moment’s notice part is still just a theory not a theorem.

Pomegranate Prosecco Cocktail

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had a wonderful 2010 and I send best wishes to a successful, happy and prosperous 2011.  To close out the year and to kick off the next I have a quick and easy cocktail, Pomegranate Prosecco Cocktail, that will get you through this evening or any Sunday brunch or wedding shower.

Pomegranate Prosecco Cocktail

1 – 2 Tbsp. Pomegranate Juice, to taste

Prosecco, Champagne or your favorite sparkling wine.

Add 1-2 Tbsp. of pomegranate juice to each champagne glass, top off with Prosecco.  Toast with someone special and enjoy!

Thanks so much to the wonderful people at POM Wonderful who sent me a case of Pomegranate juice.  Delicious and healthy — a great combination when you can find it.  Stand by for more pomegranate recipes in 2011.

Southern Entertaining Inspiration: At Home~Charleston

Image via Charleston Historic Homes

Christmas in Charleston, SC – when a friend suggested a last minute trip to the Holy City I just couldn’t resist.  Charleston is one of America’s most beautiful cities and for me, has always epitomized the best of Southern hospitality, grace and style.  And I’m just talking about the homes and the people.  I haven’t even gotten to the amazing food.

Roasted Pear & Gorgonzola Salad

I’m solo this year for Thanksgiving — having just gotten back from 17 days of traipsing across Indochina I’ve more than fulfilled this month’s quota of time zone changes, airports and security checkpoints.

Just because I’m on my own doesn’t mean I won’t be cooking a special meal. It will start with one of my favorite recipes for entertaining from the Neiman Marcus Cookbook, Roasted Pear and Gorgonzola Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Cherry Mash Martini

Wow, it’s been a hectic three weeks.   Trips to St. Joseph, Houston, Atlanta and Houston again.  A water heater broken, which meant a weekend of showering at friends’ houses and a patio re-paved, which meant a weekend of replanting flower beds.  Just one of these stresses would call for some chocolate.  Add them all together and that calls for a cocktail.  Why not have the best of both — a chocolate cocktail?

For Your Consideration: Hip Travel Mama’s Luxe Picnic

Fourth of July weekend and thoughts turn to picnics.  Hip Travel Mama challenges us to reinvent the picnic, thinking beyond paper plates and Igloo coolers to setting a picnic blanket as we would a dining room table.  I’m inspired and transported to a picnic blanket under a tree, a cool summer breeze ruffling the napkins and a refreshing bite of goat cheese and tomato salsa bruschetta.

Sour Cherry-Mascarpone Pound Cake Recipe

It’s cherry season!  Time to make possibly one of the best cakes I’ve ever eaten, Sour Cherry-Mascarpone Pound Cake from Domenica Marchetti’s cookbook, Big Night In.  Moist, dense, rich and just a touch of sour cherry sweetness.  The recipe calls for sour cherries it’s just as good with Bing or Rainier cherries. While they are in season, I buy up pints of cherries from the farmers market, pit them and freeze them, 2 cups per quart bag.

A Thanksgiving Favorite: Homemade Noodles

In my family it isn’t Thanksgiving without my mom’s homemade noodles.  We like them cooked in chicken broth and turkey drippings and poured over mashed potatoes.  Can you say carb overload? 

Cocktail Napkin, Anyone?

Cocktail Napkin, Anyone?

I am addicted to paper cocktail napkins.

On most weekends you can find me trying to score a fix.  My favorite dealers?  Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning, Marshall and let’s not forget the clearance baskets of my favorite kitchen supply and gourmet grocery stores (thank you Balduccis).  My obsession combines two experiences that keep me Jonesing for more — the thrill of the bargain and the high of finding the unique. Just when I think I can “Just Say No” I find coordinating lunch and dinner napkins. It’s like a speedball to my heart.